Constitution Review Commission has proposed dismantling the single national constituency and replacing it with a Mixed Member Proportional electoral system combining constituency MPs with party-list representatives.
Under the proposed system, the House of Representatives would have 41 members, with an approximate 60:40 split between electorate and party-list seats.
The Commission’s model translates to 26 constituency MPs elected through first-past-the-post and 15 MPs through proportional representation, according to reporting on the tabled proposal.
The Commission said the MMP model was intended to combine “local accountability and national proportionality”, allowing voters to have constituency-based representation while maintaining proportional representation through party lists.
A 5 per cent party-vote threshold has been proposed for parties to qualify for the allocation of list seats.
The Commission has also supported mechanisms aimed at improving representation across age, gender, ethnicity, geography and culture, including maritime constituencies and Reserved Seats for Women.
Another significant recommendation is the creation of an independent Constituency Boundaries Commission, which would review electoral boundaries after every census.
The Commission proposes constituencies with populations of approximately 30,000 voters per seat, with boundaries adjusted where necessary.
Together with the 19-member proposed Senate, the new structure would create a 60-member bicameral Parliament — 41 in the House of Representatives and 19 senators.
The proposals would represent a substantial change from the current system. The Electoral Commission confirmed in December 2025 that the next general election under the existing constitutional framework would have 55 parliamentary seats.
The Constitution Review Commission’s recommendations have been tabled but have not been adopted. Cabinet has stated that tabling the report does not amount to acceptance of all its recommendations.
